Tru-Flex front bumpers
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 18,126
Likes: 174
From: WI
Tru-Flex front bumpers
I am in the "market" for a front bumper, I just bought a race car with a`73 nose on it and after hearing (reading) some horror stories about the fit and finish of the fiberglass replicas I think I am sold on Tru-Flex. any reason NOT to be?? And who are we buying them from lately?? ..redvetracr
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Tru-Flex front bumpers (redvetracr)
Last month I bought a fiberglass bumper and while it fit perfectly on the drivers side it was abought 1/2 inch short on the passengers side. I had to cut the bumper, bolt it onto the car and then refiberglass it back together. Alot of work but hopefully I only have to do it once.
If this was a Tru Flex how would it have stretched the extra 1/2 inch?
If this was a Tru Flex how would it have stretched the extra 1/2 inch?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 18,126
Likes: 174
From: WI
Re: Tru-Flex front bumpers (norvalwilhelm)
Norval,
Has your car been crashed? If so I understand if not then you got a poorly made piece of fiberglass. Most (affordable) aftermarket glass needs some work but I would rather pay a little more and not have to screw around.
Tru-flex bumpers (so I have heard) fit like a glove. ..redvetracr
Has your car been crashed? If so I understand if not then you got a poorly made piece of fiberglass. Most (affordable) aftermarket glass needs some work but I would rather pay a little more and not have to screw around.
Tru-flex bumpers (so I have heard) fit like a glove. ..redvetracr
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 21,453
Likes: 461
From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Re: Tru-Flex front bumpers (norvalwilhelm)
Since our beloved Corvettes were hand laid fiberglass panels seperately bonded into a jig for assembly, no two Corvettes will actually be the same "width" apart. My '74's ORIGINAL OEM urethane front bumper is like 1/4" short on length on each side and that was from GM.
I bought a TrueFlex front and rear directly from Toledo Pro Fiberglass, $322 shipping included for BOTH the front and rear. They were "seconds", ones that got scuffed and scratched heavily in the molds and ones they could not sell to MidAmerica, CorvetteCentral, Eckler's, etc. I probably spent 6 hrs on each featherfilling and sanding, but for $322 it was well worth it :yesnod:
[Modified by Paul Borowski, 7:49 AM 12/6/2002]
I bought a TrueFlex front and rear directly from Toledo Pro Fiberglass, $322 shipping included for BOTH the front and rear. They were "seconds", ones that got scuffed and scratched heavily in the molds and ones they could not sell to MidAmerica, CorvetteCentral, Eckler's, etc. I probably spent 6 hrs on each featherfilling and sanding, but for $322 it was well worth it :yesnod:
[Modified by Paul Borowski, 7:49 AM 12/6/2002]
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Tru-Flex front bumpers (redvetracr)
My car has never been in a accident. My friend ordered it and i got it 5 years later. It still was all original.
I believe like others that production variances make it almost impossible for one bumper to fit all. I could of got a Tru Flex for a few dollars more but worried if I could fiberglass missfits as well as normal fiberglass.
I believe like others that production variances make it almost impossible for one bumper to fit all. I could of got a Tru Flex for a few dollars more but worried if I could fiberglass missfits as well as normal fiberglass.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin Rapids, WI USA
Re: Tru-Flex front bumpers (redvetracr)
I tried Tru-Flex for my '82 (front & rear)and there was no way to make them fit, they were so far off it was crazy. Had a little spat with Corvette Central(which I will never do business with again) and I had to pay BIG shipping charges to return them.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Re: Tru-Flex front bumpers (norvalwilhelm)
Oh woe is us ....
I am in the same market (soon). I don't want to pay big bucks for something
that doesn't quite fit. :crazy:
I am entertaining the crazy idea of laying some custom 'glass (ala Dave) in
the front area and fabricating some brackets to hold a chrome bumper in
place.
My 75 had (has) a replacement fiberglass rear bumper from Ecklers - before
they added the truflex - I think. It seemed to fit quite well, but I did not install
it, so there may have been issues - not sure.
:seeya
[Modified by Daves_rusty_75, 10:24 AM 12/9/2002]
I am in the same market (soon). I don't want to pay big bucks for something
that doesn't quite fit. :crazy:
I am entertaining the crazy idea of laying some custom 'glass (ala Dave) in
the front area and fabricating some brackets to hold a chrome bumper in
place.
My 75 had (has) a replacement fiberglass rear bumper from Ecklers - before
they added the truflex - I think. It seemed to fit quite well, but I did not install
it, so there may have been issues - not sure.
:seeya
[Modified by Daves_rusty_75, 10:24 AM 12/9/2002]
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